Good Afternoon Folks,
This is your update on a few relevant issues in Surprise and District 3.
#1, Loop 303 construction:
ALERT: Night time Loop 303 closure planned Monday for intersection improvements
Current Restrictions
Loop 303 will be closed overnight Monday and continued lane restrictions are planned on Bell Road at Loop 303 for intersection improvements to enhance safety and traffic flow, and to prepare the roadway for future construction of the Loop 303 underpass at this location. Please see below for information about restriction dates and times.
Loop 303 between Greenway and Bell roads
Monday, Aug. 31 – Tuesday, Sept. 1, 8 p.m. – 5 a.m.
Loop 303 will be CLOSED in both directions overnight between Greenway and Bell roads from Monday night, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. until Tuesday morning, Sept. 1 at 5 a.m. for work on the intersection improvement projects. Detour: Traffic may use Reems Road as an alternate route.
Bell Road between 165th and 168th avenues REVISED
Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 5 a.m. – late October
Bell Road will be restricted from three lanes to two lanes in each direction between 165th and 168th avenues starting Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 5 a.m. until late October for work on intersection improvements. This will also require closing the left turn lane on eastbound and westbound Bell Road at Loop 303. During the left lane closure, eastbound drivers may take Reems Road to Grand Avenue then northwest to access Loop 303. Westbound drivers may take Reems south to Greenway then west to access Loop 303.
ONGOING RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
Bell Road between Sarival Road and Cotton Lane
Through late October
The sidewalk on the south side of Bell Road will be closed through late October for Bell Road intersection improvements. Pedestrians may use the sidewalk on the north side of Bell Road and cross at Sarival Road or Cotton Lane to access the south side of Bell Road.
Loop 303 at Bell Road
Through late October
The shoulder of southbound Loop 303 just south of Bell Road will be closed for approximately three months for work on intersection improvements. Temporary concrete barriers will be placed on the shoulder to protect the work area.
#2: The Communiversity @ Surprise is open!!!
You’ve wanted Higher Ed, here it is! The Communiversity @ Surprise will allow students of all ages to retain Associates degrees through PhD programs. Their open house is tomorrow, join me in welcoming these Educational Institution into our city, certainly a much needed resource for all Surprise residents. Check out the official Website for more info: http://www.azcommuniversity.com/Pages/default.aspx
#3: Parcel 14 in Sierra Montana:
For those keeping tabs on this issue, please know we have not reached our goal to keep the streetlights energized in Parcel 14. At this point we are sitting at roughly 100, leaving us about 50 signed petitions short. If you know of anyone that lives in this area please urge them to sign the petition. I’ve, along with many City staff members as well as the HOA, have exhausted all routes. We’ve knocked on doors, put out flyers, made phone calls, mailed letters to all homeowners (including those that live out of state), and even sat outside the entrance ways waving residents down and urging them to sign the petition. At this point it is likely that the lights will go off soon if we cannot immediately meet the minimum required petitions to begin the SLID. For those that are unaware, a SLID, or Street Light Improvement District, is the mechanism for which you and I pay for our streetlights. It cost each of us roughly $3 per month and it comes out of our property taxes. This particular community of about 60+ streetlights has yet to make such payments because there was a failure to form the SLID some 6 years ago when the community was being built. The developer picked up the tab for a while, but is no longer making payments. APS will no longer pay for these lights without the appropriate SLID in place. Any help in communicating with these residents is greatly appreciated!
#4: Surprise Farms Park is open:
The grass is green and the fence is down. After much anticipation Surprise Farms Park is now open to the public. I realize that this is not exactly what many in the community where sold on, but it is certainly a vast improvement from the previous dust bowl. Amenities will come as budget allows.
#5: Coffee Talk, Sept 12, Over Coffee 9AM-?????:
Last turnout was great, dozens of folks with a number of issues! This is how things get done, we communicate and address community needs. Thanks so much to all that continue to stay engaged.
#6: Neighborhood Watch Programs continue to grow
The City of Surprise Crime Prevention unit, along with some very active residents, continue to help support the Neighborhood Watch Program. Remember this is not about spying on your neighbors, but about maintaining the safest community in Arizona. As we move forward as a city, through the good and bad times, crime is inevitable. However to act as a reliable tool to our Police Department will only make our city more economically viable as a safe community to live and do business in. Please contact Surprise police or myself, if you are interested in beginning a Neighborhood Watch program in your community. Here are my Top Ten reasons to start, or join, a Neighborhood Watch Program:
10 – Get to know your neighbors
9 – Become more aware of what is occurring within your community
8 – Put a Neighborhood Watch sign in your yard as a crime deterrent tool
7 – Learn strategies on how to prevent crime in your home and on your street
6 – Educate your children on how to stay out of trouble, and how to spot trouble
5 – Develop a closer relationship with your local police officers (maintain that small town relationship)
4 – Have a party, or 2, or 3 (The Surprise Block Party Trailer is free, and will come out to help support your neighborhood)
3 – Earn a Block Watch Membership Card
2 – Earn a discount to local participating businesses with your Block Watch Membership Card
1 – Keep your streets crime free
This is your update on a few relevant issues in Surprise and District 3.
#1, Loop 303 construction:
ALERT: Night time Loop 303 closure planned Monday for intersection improvements
Current Restrictions
Loop 303 will be closed overnight Monday and continued lane restrictions are planned on Bell Road at Loop 303 for intersection improvements to enhance safety and traffic flow, and to prepare the roadway for future construction of the Loop 303 underpass at this location. Please see below for information about restriction dates and times.
Loop 303 between Greenway and Bell roads
Monday, Aug. 31 – Tuesday, Sept. 1, 8 p.m. – 5 a.m.
Loop 303 will be CLOSED in both directions overnight between Greenway and Bell roads from Monday night, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. until Tuesday morning, Sept. 1 at 5 a.m. for work on the intersection improvement projects. Detour: Traffic may use Reems Road as an alternate route.
Bell Road between 165th and 168th avenues REVISED
Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 5 a.m. – late October
Bell Road will be restricted from three lanes to two lanes in each direction between 165th and 168th avenues starting Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 5 a.m. until late October for work on intersection improvements. This will also require closing the left turn lane on eastbound and westbound Bell Road at Loop 303. During the left lane closure, eastbound drivers may take Reems Road to Grand Avenue then northwest to access Loop 303. Westbound drivers may take Reems south to Greenway then west to access Loop 303.
ONGOING RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES
Bell Road between Sarival Road and Cotton Lane
Through late October
The sidewalk on the south side of Bell Road will be closed through late October for Bell Road intersection improvements. Pedestrians may use the sidewalk on the north side of Bell Road and cross at Sarival Road or Cotton Lane to access the south side of Bell Road.
Loop 303 at Bell Road
Through late October
The shoulder of southbound Loop 303 just south of Bell Road will be closed for approximately three months for work on intersection improvements. Temporary concrete barriers will be placed on the shoulder to protect the work area.
#2: The Communiversity @ Surprise is open!!!
You’ve wanted Higher Ed, here it is! The Communiversity @ Surprise will allow students of all ages to retain Associates degrees through PhD programs. Their open house is tomorrow, join me in welcoming these Educational Institution into our city, certainly a much needed resource for all Surprise residents. Check out the official Website for more info: http://www.azcommuniversity.com/Pages/default.aspx
#3: Parcel 14 in Sierra Montana:
For those keeping tabs on this issue, please know we have not reached our goal to keep the streetlights energized in Parcel 14. At this point we are sitting at roughly 100, leaving us about 50 signed petitions short. If you know of anyone that lives in this area please urge them to sign the petition. I’ve, along with many City staff members as well as the HOA, have exhausted all routes. We’ve knocked on doors, put out flyers, made phone calls, mailed letters to all homeowners (including those that live out of state), and even sat outside the entrance ways waving residents down and urging them to sign the petition. At this point it is likely that the lights will go off soon if we cannot immediately meet the minimum required petitions to begin the SLID. For those that are unaware, a SLID, or Street Light Improvement District, is the mechanism for which you and I pay for our streetlights. It cost each of us roughly $3 per month and it comes out of our property taxes. This particular community of about 60+ streetlights has yet to make such payments because there was a failure to form the SLID some 6 years ago when the community was being built. The developer picked up the tab for a while, but is no longer making payments. APS will no longer pay for these lights without the appropriate SLID in place. Any help in communicating with these residents is greatly appreciated!
#4: Surprise Farms Park is open:
The grass is green and the fence is down. After much anticipation Surprise Farms Park is now open to the public. I realize that this is not exactly what many in the community where sold on, but it is certainly a vast improvement from the previous dust bowl. Amenities will come as budget allows.
#5: Coffee Talk, Sept 12, Over Coffee 9AM-?????:
Last turnout was great, dozens of folks with a number of issues! This is how things get done, we communicate and address community needs. Thanks so much to all that continue to stay engaged.
#6: Neighborhood Watch Programs continue to grow
The City of Surprise Crime Prevention unit, along with some very active residents, continue to help support the Neighborhood Watch Program. Remember this is not about spying on your neighbors, but about maintaining the safest community in Arizona. As we move forward as a city, through the good and bad times, crime is inevitable. However to act as a reliable tool to our Police Department will only make our city more economically viable as a safe community to live and do business in. Please contact Surprise police or myself, if you are interested in beginning a Neighborhood Watch program in your community. Here are my Top Ten reasons to start, or join, a Neighborhood Watch Program:
10 – Get to know your neighbors
9 – Become more aware of what is occurring within your community
8 – Put a Neighborhood Watch sign in your yard as a crime deterrent tool
7 – Learn strategies on how to prevent crime in your home and on your street
6 – Educate your children on how to stay out of trouble, and how to spot trouble
5 – Develop a closer relationship with your local police officers (maintain that small town relationship)
4 – Have a party, or 2, or 3 (The Surprise Block Party Trailer is free, and will come out to help support your neighborhood)
3 – Earn a Block Watch Membership Card
2 – Earn a discount to local participating businesses with your Block Watch Membership Card
1 – Keep your streets crime free
